Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-07-01

shores the negroes in their little oyster
boats the white sea-gulls, eagles fish
hawks and other water fowl searching the
shallow waters for their prey-altogether
form a moving panorama which in beauty
and impressiveness cannot be easily sur
passed If we sit until the sun has gone
down at our backs and its meteor-like re
Election from the windows of the Hygeia
has faded and the shutdown gun has sound
ed from the fort and the stars are begin
ming TO dot the sky, we shall see glimmer-
ing row of ships lights on the southern ho-
rizon and the more brilliant glow from six
government light houses, the most distant
being that of Cape Henry, some 20 miles
away.
Hampton.
Strictly speaking, Hampton is not an old
town, us it has but Just received its town
charter from the legislature and only
very few of its houses are old as the place
has so many times been destroyed by fire.
both purposely and accidentally The 10
cality, however, was settled by the English
colonists as early as 1910, and has been the
theatre Of three wars One of the earliest
engagements of the Revolutionary war was
the successful defence of the place by the
inhabitants, aided by rifle company,
against the boats Of British fleet In 1873
Hampton was attacked and captured by "A
British fotilla under command of Admiral
Cockburn and Sir Sidney Beckwith. In
August, 1861, the Confederate troops un-
der Gen Magruder set fire to the place in
anticipation of its occupation by Gen. But
Ter, and all but one or two houses in the
village proper We're destroyed.
One of the chief objects of interest in
the place is st. Johns Episcopal church.
said to be the second oldest church edifce
in the country now used for public wor-
ship. 1t was built in 1850 60 of brick
brought over from England for the pur-
pose. When the British burned the town
in 1913 the wood work of the building was
destroyed, and the same thing occurred in
1861. The walls were also partially de
stroyed by marauding soldiers in search of
the valuabes supposed to have been placed
the building was used as IA stable The vii
lage also contains both white and colored
Baptist and Methodist churches, and some
fine business blocks and private residences.
The population of Hampton is now about
1000 and steadily increasing. Judging by
the people one meets upon the street, the
ratio of colored to white inhabitants is
about four to one, and the place bears the
usual characteristics of southern towns
which to northern eyes seem grotesuue
dirty streets, treacherous sidewalks, quaint
buildings dilapidated premises, whitewash-
ed houses, fences and trees, black women
bearing huge baskets upon their heads,
country negroes of either sex, or an entire
family, riding into town in an ox-cart drawn
10y diminutive steer guided by ropes at
team most commonly used by the negro
farmers of this section and it certainly
has the merit of utility and economy. al
though the fiery steed" never grows to be
larger than a northern two-year The
people of Hampton are largely interested
in the oyster and fishing business. The
place also contains crab-canning estab-
lishment steam sawmill etc. Hampton is
near the eastern terminus of the Chesa-
peake X Ohio railroad which extends to
Richmond by way of Newport News. Old
Point Comfort, three miles from Hampton.
Is To he the earstern terminus of the road
when completed.
Other Points of Interest.
Crossing Hampton creek on the bridge
which Gen. Phelps and the First Vermont
regiment marched to take possession of the
town in ls6l-or one which occupies the
place of it-nearly opposite the village and
commanding fine view of the Roads we
find located Gen. Armstrong; school for
negroes and Indians before alluded to.
Though this school has been the object of
some petty malice on the part of certain
southern white residents of the place. who
thought their business was being injured
by the products of the workshops connect
ed Herewith, it has fully vindicated itself
as a local institution, and also, doubt not,
IN an educational and humanitarian point
of view. The school is in reality an agri-
cultural and chronological institute, and I
notice that the name of Charles l.. Mead of
New York appears as one of the board of
trustees. The home farm upon which the
school buildings are located embraces 1870
acres. besides which there is "A grass and
grain farm Of 900 acres located about four
miles outside of Hampton, which is worked
10y students The school property is valued
at over S4OO, 600 and the % buildings con
nected Herewith are such as would be6t
any collegiate institution in the country.
Besides what funds the school receives from
the government and from the state of Viz
glnia the sum Of $50, 600 annually is de.
pended upon in the way of contributions
from the benevolent people of the north.
During the last winter term the number Of
scholars in attendance was 63s, of whom
III were Indians. 1t was while Gen. But
Ter was IN command at Fortress Monroe
that, IN answer b. the demand Of Col Nal
Tory OF Hampton to have his runaway
slaves returned, he issued his famous man
date that the slaves of rebel masters were
contrahand of war and near the entrance
OF the present institute stands the Butler"
school house which was soon after built bv
the government for the education of the
contrabands
Adjoining the institute grounds on the
east are those of the southern branch ma
tional home for disabled veteran soldiers
the grounds Of which, extending to the
waters edge, are hid out with exquisite
taste while the commodious, airy buildings
and well appointed accessories bespeak
thoughtful regard for the comfort and vel
fare of the manned and eufeebled snrviv-
on Of the Union army. Near by isana-
uonal cemetery Of about IL acres where
some 5000 soldiers, both Union and Con
tederate, are buried.
AT Old Point Comfort the main object of
interest Is Fortress Monroe, the strongest
aud most extensive Of Uncle Sans militia
ry outposts. The site was occupied by